The Key to Problems of Asia Is in Asia Itself

Service : Politic

TEHRAN, Sept. 13 (ICANA) –First Vice-Speaker of Iranian Parliament (Majlis), Mohammad Hassan Aboutorabi-Fard says the key to the problems of Asia must be sought in the continent itself, adding that the trans-regional forces must be stopped from interfering in the affairs of Asia as soon as possible.

Tuesday, September 13, 2011 8:15:57 PM

Addressing the opening session of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) Standing Committee for Social and Cultural Affairs here in Tehran on Tuesday, Aboutorabi-Fard noted: "Cultural promotion, social security and political stability in Asia depends on departure of foreign troops from the region and an end to foreign intervention in the affairs of Asian countries."

Noting that extremism, violence and terrorism are rooted in injustice, autocracy, aggression and occupation, the top Iranian lawmaker said there are certain members of the Asian Parliamentary Assembly who still suffer from occupation and suppression.

Aboutorabi-Fard lashed out at the continued crimes committed by the Zionist regime of Israel against the Palestinian people, and stressed that the world is stunned by the Zionists' crimes against humanity.

He also pointed to the ongoing siege of Gaza and the continued occupation of the Palestinian territories, and stated, "Palestinian people are still under occupation and are still victims of aggression and intimidation."

"The Zionist regime has stunned the world by committing acts of genocide and crimes against humanity," he added.

"The siege of the helpless people of Gaza, massacre of the oppressed children and innocent mothers and bombardment of residential areas are clear instances of genocide and crime against humanity," he noted.

The chairman of the APA Standing Committee for Social and Cultural Affairs urged the Assembly to give an appropriate response to these malicious acts of the Zionist regime.

The siege of Gaza started in June 2007 when Israel imposed a blockade on the Gaza Strip. This was supported by the former government of Egypt and the US administration.

The blockade consists of a land blockade along Gaza's borders with Egypt and Israel and a sea blockade. It immediately followed the 2006-2007 economic sanctions against the Palestinian National Authority following the election of Hamas to the Palestinian government.

The blockade has attracted criticism from many Human Rights organizations. September 2009 UN fact-finding mission found that the blockade of Gaza "amounted to collective punishment" was likely a war crime and a crime against humanity and recommended that the matter be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Elsewhere in his remarks, Aboutorabifard stated that dialogue and understanding among Asian religions and cultures would lead to integration, peace, friendship as well as rejection of discrimination and violence.

Aboutorabi-Fard said he expects a stronger role for Asia in future as the world's largest continent is on the verge of taking a wide stride after the start of the Islamic awakening in the region.

"Asia's tomorrow will definitely be different from its today. We will have a strong Asia," Aboutorabi-Fard said.

He noted the continent's potential power, and said, "Asia has a very large consumption market that is the most important relying point for its economic growth and development and gives it political and economic powers," Aboutorabi-Fard added.

He further mentioned that Asia "pioneers in the campaign against hegemonic powers", and expressed the hope that the ongoing meeting in Tehran would help promote Asia to gain the power it deserves.

He said poverty and corruption were two main elements behind Asia's backwardness and urged APA member states to devise a united policy and approach towards eliminating these menaces.

He also said it was now imperative for the APA member states to take practical and executive steps towards parliamentary cooperation by enacting common laws.

The Asian Parliamentary Assembly (APA) was born in 2006 at the Seventh Session of the Association of Asian Parliamentary for Peace (AAPP). In other words, the APA is the continuation of an organization which was established in 1999.

The APA comprises 41 Member Parliaments and 17 observers. Each Member Parliament has a specific number of seats in the Assembly based on the size of their population.

The number of the total seats, and therefore, the number of votes, is currently 206.

Members of the Assembly must be elected by the members of the Member Parliaments.

The APA Charter and Tehran Declaration lay out the framework of cooperation among the Asian countries, and point out to a vision; that is Asian Integration.